January 18, 2022|In Christian Living|By Guest Author

Oh sweet friend, my heart is terribly longing for home. Living so far away from home is sometimes more than this heart of mine can handle. When life gets difficult, and hard decisions have to be made, or unwanted correction takes place, all I want to do is to be nestled away in my comfortable home surrounded by the ones who I know will never leave my side. I remember my first time being sick at college in Indiana. Oh, how I longed for my home! I longed for my warm bed and delicious soup that mom would always make for me when I was sick.

I am thankful for a husband who encourages me to keep moving forward when sometimes my heart just isn’t there. Please don’t get me wrong… I love my new home in North Carolina. I love coming to our house after a long day of work and crashing on the couch with my husband after a delicious dinner, but my heart isn’t fully here yet. My heart is still at home with my family.

We all want a comfortable and safe place to call our home, don’t we? A place where we can take off our armour, cozy up and watch a movie, and go to sleep at night without fear? A place where we can wear our hair in messy buns and have smeared makeup without feeling self-conscious. A place where we can give the same love that we receive. Home, sweet home.

The other day, the Lord planted my eyes on the story of Abraham. Hebrews 11:8-18 says:

  By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he left, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as a stranger in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith, even Sarah herself received the ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. Therefore even from one man, and one who was as good as dead at that, there were born descendants who were just as the stars of heaven in number, and as the innumerable grains of sand along the seashore. All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen and welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country which they left, they would have had the opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.”

Longing for Home - The Hope Table a UK based Christian blog for Christian women

Called by God to an Unfamiliar Place

Abraham was called by God to a place completely unfamiliar. He was called to leave all the comfort that his home brought him. By the faith he held in his heart, he left all the comfort. And as God promised, he would inherit a land that would be ordained just for him. Abraham had nothing but a wife. No kids, no physical house (just tents), and no comforts of his old home. He had nothing to hold onto, but the promise of the Lord. How could he have descendants more than the grains of sand along the seashore when his wife was barren? This is the most precious part of the story, sweet friend. God is immeasurably more than our own limitations and immeasurably more than our earthly home. The comfort zone is one of the most dangerous places to be. Our eternal home, our hope, is worth more than our earthly comfort. Abraham hid that in his heart. The most precious piece of the story– our God is more than the unfamiliar.

Longing for Home - The Hope Table a UK based Christian blog for Christian women

God had been teaching me something so important these last few weeks. If my heart longed for my heavenly home even more than my earthly home, how would that change my perspective here on earth? My Savior had been teaching my heart to long for my eternal home, rather than just my earthly home. Isn’t that beautiful?

My Challenge for You

This is the hope I challenge you to cling to today– we have been given this home in Christ. In our eternal home with Jesus. Whether we find ourselves ten hours away from home or even in a hospital bed, let’s fix our eyes on the home that was carefully crafted for us. A home that will never grow old or rickety. A home built for a king or queen because Jesus lives in it Himself. A home with no sickness or death. A home where we can just say the name of Jesus and physically lay our head on His shoulders. Oh, sweet friend, my heart longs for the comfort of this home!

But for now, I will keep eagerly waiting to be embraced at the gates of my heavenly home. My heart longs for you, Jesus.

What has God been teaching your heart this season?

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Longing for Home - The Hope Table a UK based Christian blog for Christian women

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